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The Duke of Sussex has toasted his arrival in Fiji with a sip of traditional drink kava, at a lavish welcoming ceremony attended by an estimated 15,000 people.

The Duke and Duchess were treated to offerings of roast pig, a whale's tooth - representing wealth - and the ceremonial drink, which is celebrated for its rumoured sedative and euphoric properties.

Cheered by crowds in the pouring rain, the couple watched dozens of men perform a welcome dance for them, accompanied by song.

The Duke, who took a sip of kava to whoops and applause from locals, told the audience:"Bula venaka! The Duchess and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during the next two days and celebrating the links and close friendship between Fiji and the United Kingdom." He signed off "Venaka", or thank you, to cheers and laughter.

In darkness, the couple then made the short journey to the Grand Pacific Hotel, where they are staying, before appearing on the balcony to wave at admirers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wave from the balcony of the Grand Pacific Hotel in SuvaCredit:
Stephen Lock/i-Images

Both the ceremony and the balcony appearance mirror the Royal visit to Fiji in 1953, when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh watched the same traditional elements of the 45-minute-long welcoming party.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arrived at a rainy Albert Park in Suva from a meeting with the president.

Thousands of people had been waiting for several hours to see them, under polite but strict instructions from local officials to remain seated, without headwear, in the customary way to show respect.

The Duchess waved to the crowd from the motorcade, before stepping out in light winds with her husband to walk along a red carpet to a raised dias for the Veirqaraqarvi Vakavanua.

Wind catches a red carpet laid to welcome the royal couple in SuvaCredit:
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Reuters

The crowd, slightly damp from the rain shower or "a bit of blessing" as the master of ceremonies put it, cheered and waved Union and Fijian flags as the couple arrived.

As the ceremony began, the crowd maintained a reverential silence, with only the occasional burst of children chatting or a nearby clock chiming heard over the rhythmic drums and chanting of the ceremony.

The Duke of Sussex drinks kava as his wife looks on at a traditional welcome ceremony after the couple arrived in SuvaCredit:
PETER PARKS /AFP/Getty

The Duke, his medals catching the floodlights, looked on as the kava was made with the root wrung out and a bowl passed onto the stage. He accepted the bowl and held it to his lips as the crowd cheered.

Rain began to fall again as the lovo, a presentation of food of a roast pig and a basket of dalo, a root vegetable like a potato, was offered to the Duke.

Men wearing traditional Fijian dress carrying a roasted pig in Alberts Park as they await the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of SussexCredit:
Chris Jackson /Getty

The Duchess appeared fixated on the performances, looking straight ahead as the Duke occasionally snuck a look in her direction.

To close the ceremony, the couple watched a meke, a traditional dance with Harry leaning forward in his seat.

Dozens of people from the village of Nakelo took to the Albert Park turf to perform for the Duke and Duchess. The area is known for its strong links to the armed forces.

As it finished, thousands of people, damp from the rain showers, leapt to their feet to jog over the park to the front of the Grand Pacific Hotel.

A good-natured but excitable crowd strained at the roadside, clamoring to see one more glimpse of the royal couple as they were driven up to the hotel door.

Moments later, they reappeared on the balcony, waving and looking down at the assembled masses for around 30 seconds before walking, hand in hand, back indoors to get ready for a black tie dinner this evening.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend an official welcome ceremony at Albert Park in Suva, FijiCredit:
Dominic Lipinski /PA

Onlookers immediately compared videos and photographs on their phones, asking one another: "Did you see them?"

Naomi Ruci Kaloumaira, 20, said she had wanted to see "history in the making", proclaiming the change to see members of the Royal family in her lifetime "epic".

Leilah-Marie Waqaniravaladi, 22, said seeing the Duke and Duchess had made her emotional, after growing up hearing stories from her late grandfather who had his picture taken with the Queen in the 1953 visit.

Tevita, eight, said he "wanted to see a prince in real life", with his mother Una Tabua adding: "This is history for us."

Duchess dazzles in diamonds at black tie reception

Her outfit, worn with her hair down, was by German-born, London-based designer Daniela Karmuts, and selected to provide the suitable amount of glamour to honour her Fijiian hosts.

Guests - diplomats, local business leaders and the cream of Fijian society - gathered for the champagne reception ahead of the state dinner at the Grand Pacific Hotel where the royal couple are staying during the visit.

The Duchess of Sussex wears a full-length cape blue dress by designer SAFiYAA at a black tie receptionCredit:
Ian Vogler/PA

One guest said the light blue dress was clearly “Fijian Blue” a nod to her hosts. The Duchess also wore drop diamond earrings, but Kensington Palace did not say where they were from.

As the couple entered the reception room there was a drum roll, before they were announced. They then circulated the reception meeting local dignitaries.

The Duke is due to speak later at the state dinner.

The royal couple arrive together at a black tie dinner in SuvaCredit:
Ian Vogler /AP

During his speech, the President of Fiji paid tribute to the Duke's mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

He said he was sure she would be “proud of the man” Prince Harry had become and that he had found happiness and love with Meghan.

Duke honours Fiji's 'long tradition' of welcoming his family

The Duke of Sussex has spoken of his joy at visiting Fiji with his wife as a "young married couple", as he pays tribute to the country's "long tradition" of welcoming his family.

The Duke, who delivered a speech at a black tie dinner in Suva, said the ties between Britain and his hosts "run deep", based on Commonwealth values which he claimed included a "love of rugby and a sense of humour".

Paying particular tribute to the Fijian soldiers he served with in Afghanistan, the Duke said he was "very glad" that the British government is increasing its support for the region.

"All over the world Fiji is renowned for its incredible natural beauty and hospitality," he said. "We, as a couple, feel very lucky to be spending part of our tour as your guests."

He added: "It is a great pleasure for Meghan and me to be your guests here tonight on our first visit to Fiji.

"We were overwhelmed by the warm Fijian welcome we received from the people of these beautiful islands this afternoon in Albert Park, and all the way from the airport! It really is a privilege to be here.

"As you know, Fiji has a long tradition of welcoming Royal visitors over the years and our two countries have enjoyed a close relationship and friendship."

The Queen is greeted by a young girl at an official welcome at a quayside in Fiji during the coronation world tour of 1953Credit:
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Since 1953, Fiji has hosted a number of royal visits: five visits from the Queen in 1963, 1970, 1973, 1977 and 1982; three from Prince Charles in 1970, 1985 and 2005; one from Prince Andrew in 1998 and another from Princess Anne in 2006.

Couple spending three days 'experiencing the rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality'

The Duke and Duchess, who flew from Hervey Bay, Australia, in a charter plane on Tuesday morning, will spend three days in the country, “experiencing the rich Fijian culture and generous hospitality”, the palace said.

Greeted by a Guard of Honour at Nausori Airport, Suva, the Duke inspected the guard of one hundred soldiers from the Fijian Army and Navy, and took the salute.

She paired the dress with a Stephen Jones hat, earrings that were a gift from the Queen and a bracelet that was a gift from the Prince of Wales.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are greeted in blustery conditions in Suva, FijiCredit:
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

She and Harry were met at Suva's Nausori Airport by Melanie Hopkins, the High Commissioner and chief of protocol, Jonetani Tagivetaua.

The pair left their Qantas charter flight to light rain and were introduced to the Hon Frank Bainamara, Fiji's Prime Minister and his wife, Maria, Ro Teimumu Kepa, leader of the opposition, Alessandro Truppia, the High Commissioner's wife and Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto, commander of the RFMF.

The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of flowers by a flower girl from the chiefly island of Bau, the island home of Ratu Apensia Cakobau, who ceded Fiji to Britain in 1874 before the Duke made his way to a dais on the runway.

The Duchess of Sussex accepts a bouquet of flowers as the Duke looks on Credit:
Samir Hussein /WireImage

The Duke and Duchess observed a royal salute, and the Duke was then invited to inspect the guard of honour before the pair left for their next engagement, a meeting with Fiji's President, Jioji Konrote.

As the couple's convoy left the airport, hundreds of wellwishers had lined the road out of the airport, waving flags and cheering.

Next, they moved to the official welcome ceremony in the city centre's Albert Park.

The ceremony, known as the Veirqaraqaravi Vakavanua, exactly mirrored one attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1953, and involves a number of traditional elements of Fijian culture, including the presentation of the Tabua, a Kava ceremony and a dance known as the Meke.

A day later, the Duchess is due to embark on the key solo element of her tour programme, with a focus on women’s empowerment.